Uh oh couldn't resist a NOID

[Kerry]

Oh that's a real shame about the label. Mine just said "orchid ceramic" because it came with an extra ceramic pot to put it into so no chance of the name at all.

Yes it does seem to be a failing of our supermakets and shops to never ever have orchids with labels. Even all the garden centres I have been to fail to identify hybrids. You are lucky if they tell you it's a miltonia or a phalaenopsis. Mind you, it hasn't stopped me wanting to buy them so far....

[Elena]

You are so right. I think the best you can hope for in a supermarket or a garden centre is "Phalaenopsis 2 spikes". Or you'll just have a Cambria Nelly Isler regradless of what it actually is

[Kerry]

You are so right. I think the best you can hope for in a supermarket or a garden centre is "Phalaenopsis 2 spikes". Or you'll just have a Cambria Nelly Isler regradless of what it actually is

I got very cross today _________________ as everything was labelled just Miltassia, Miltonia, Cambria or the ubiquitous Phalaenopsis. I think I started ranting at one point and ended up calling myself a snob.

Hey, but the upside is that it's an excuse to splurge when I do find a decent nursery! By the way, the Miltassias that they had looked great, and very like Zygopetalums (possibly thats just my untrained eye)

I'm certain there are more impulse NOIDs in my future!

[Elena]

*sigh* You'd think that at least the RHS would sell properly labelled plants, wouldn't you?

I repotted my guy today as I didn't like the look of the medium. It has lots of very healthy roots which I had a great difficulty stuffing back into the pot. Hope it won't abort the blooms now but it had to be done. Also repotted a Paph and discovered just how fragile their roots are Be very, very, very careful if you decide to do it in the future!

[Kerry]

I have just repotted my first icky phal. I bought this plant 3 weeks ago, and it's been downhill since then, it has taken me awhile as I was only able t go and get the bark mix yesterday at the nursery.

I got it out the pot to find 2 good fat roots about 5cm long, a couple of thin stringy but green ones, and the rest mush.

Am just trying to work out if the dampening I gave the coarse bark was not to much to put it off forming new roots to go seek water. It's all a learning experience....

I will definintely need to repot up at least two of my paphs after flowering, what sort of mix have you used?

[Elena]

It's definitely a bit of a learning curve! I put the paphs into a mix of bark, coconut husks and charcoal. Hopefully they'll like it

Hope your phal recovers!

[Kerry]

What sort of charcoal are you using? You mentioned using that in your Catts too, and I will need to repot one of them shortly after blooming as the beginnings of new growth (could be new roots - I don't exactly know what is what) is hanging over the pot edge.

I spent part of today at garden centres, and I did have a look for charcoal - but either I am being really dense and you just use the stuff that you get for Barbeques, or I have really crap plant places near me. Oh yes, I have already moaned about them today haven't I

If it's a brand/ or from a particular place, can you PM me? Thanks

[Elena]

Kerry, I ordered charcoal from a Scottish nursery when I bought my Penang Girl, ferilizer, medium and all the rest of supplies. I can't get to any nurseries at the moment so mail order was the only way for me. It just looks like chunks of wood charcoal in a plastic bag. If you want I can PM you some of the nurseries that I know have it for sale online.

[Kerry]

No worry - found it along with the Penang Girl. Now, if I have to order charcoal, shouldn't I get a plant too?????? hmmmm....

[Elena]

Well, you'd need to spread the cost of the postage a little, wouldn't you I must say that my Penang Girl arrived looking a little anaemic but I'm hoping it'll pick up soon. They have quite a few nice plants on there.